California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

Kingsmen Tame Panthers in 1-0 Victory

After a physical game, California Lutheran University men’s soccer team walked away with a victory over the no. 4 team in the conference. The 1-0 win on Wednesday, Oct. 3 was the Kingsmen’s fourth consecutive victory over the against the visiting Chapman University Panthers.

In the opening minutes of play, the Panthers started off aggressive with a shot that went through sophomore goalkeeper Antonio Welch’s hands and bounced off the right post before being recovered by Welch.

The Kingsmen responded in the 28th minute as the ball from a blocked shot by junior forward Joey Arnold wound up at the feet of first-year midfielder Igor Lumbrano. Lumbrano took a shot from inside the box that traveled just wide of the goal.

The Kingsmen came close to a goal in the last two minutes of the first half. First-year forward Jose Olea delivered a through ball to the other first-year forward, Adrian Graciano, who took a shot and scored. The goal, however, was overturned because of an offsides call by the line referee, sending both teams into the second half tied at 0-0.

Going into the second half, both teams continued their level of physical play piling up fouls and yellow cards.

In the 69th minute, Chapman senior forward Kai Howe was red-carded for arguing with the referee, forcing the Panthers to play a player down and changing the momentum of the game.

“We had tons of space with one less player on the field,” first-year defender Nick Bryant said. “It gave the defense a lot less pressure and we had a lot more time to think and get the ball up field.”

Ten minutes after the red card, the Kingsmen scored the game-winning goal off of a counterattack. Arnold passed the ball to senior forward Jared Pischke. Pischke’s first shot was deflected by the Panthers’ keeper, but then he quickly recovered the ball and delivered a goal into the bottom right corner of the net.

“It was a great buildup from my teammates,” Pischke said. “Joey played me a perfect through ball where I beat my defenders…The keeper saved the first one but I just followed through with my run and tapped it in.”

With a 4-4-0 record in conference, the Kingsmens’ head into their next match against the Occidental University Tigers, who are currently sitting in the second spot in conference.

“Oxy is a hard-working team and we’re going to have to match their intensity,” Head Coach Miguel Ruiz said. “But if today was a testament of what we can do, I think we’re gonna be okay.”

Scott Roberts
Reporter

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